‘The Black Experience: Nashville’ Brings a Walking Tour Into Your Living Room

Before the pandemic, walking tours were a wonderful opportunity to explore the city, and a handful of them were focused on giving an in-depth understanding of the Black culture and history that is prevalent all throughout Nashville. Of course, COVID-19 has since put a halt on the walking tours — but that doesn’t mean people can’t partake in these learning experiences from home. Chakita Patterson, the founder of United Street Tours, is kicking off Black History Month with an online interactive event called “The Black Experience: Nashville.” It’s a curated event that allows participants to virtually visit historic spaces and hear about the narratives that are often omitted from Nashville’s history. Oftentimes it is these untold stories that stop people from having a complete and full perspective, but thanks to the work of Patterson and United Street Tours, this knowledge is becoming more accessible. 

Patterson explains the importance of the Black Experience tour on the United Street Tours website: “Nashville, like many cities involved in the Transatlantic Slave Trade, has a complex history that is often suppressed. These untold stories are the missing pieces needed to gain a fuller perspective. For many people, accessing this knowledge has proven difficult due to the history of omission and segregation. Therefore, The Black Experience provides foundational knowledge to build upon by exploring the historical landmarks and stories that connect us.”

Register for the virtual event, which begins at 6:30 p.m. Monday, Feb. 1, by visiting unitedstreettours.com/virtual-experiences.